A few guinea questions

[DACIFarmGuineas]

As far as fly's go we use a fly larva that comes via ups/fedex from a company we have used for years. You open the plastic bag and place a little bit of it here and there all over the barn or wherever you have fly problems. Knock on wood, we haven't had fly's bother our horses inside the barn or out. These things are so small like a nat, and they eat up all the fly eggs.


Cindi K.

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

Guineas are better than guard dogs. they will see more and alarm you quicker of anything that moves that they are not used to. including strange birds, hawks,other predators, and strangers. I have had guineas and actaully next year I am planning on getting some more from Murray McMurray hatchery.(he is the only hatcherie I have ever used and i just like them, if anyone knows of a better one please let me know as well. they will roam long distances for that reason I have had to keep them penned up so they will not wander into the road. I have 3 acres, but my house is about 12 yrds. off of the road. the chickens stay in the back, but from time to time have wandered up front and into the road, causing a traffic slow down..and me embarassment! LOL

Has anyone ever tamed a guinea?

 

[PaintedPony]

Do any of you sell guinea eggs/chicks or know someone that does? I really want some but I do not want to buy 25 from the hatchery. Is there a hatchery that doesn't require you buy 25 at a time? I only want 3-5 of them and I am sure I wouldn't be able to sell the rest in my area if I bought 25 chicks.

TIA

 

[ErieSpurs]

Meyer hatchery will ship small numbers. That's where I got my guineas from. Mine are relatively silent too, they only make a ruckus when something is wrong. They can even identify faces, and can tell the difference between someone in my family and a stranger.

 

[sred98]

You can also look on Craigslist for guineas. I will say that the home-raised guineas I got as new babies from someone on here are so much calmer and almost friendly, compared to hatchery/feedstore birds. I love my guineas. We live in the middle of nowhere and had the worst tick problem last year, until the guineas got old enough to free-range. Now we have none.

Mine stay within visual range of the house...my house, not the barn. Unless I go wander the woods in the back of the property, then I've got 9 guineas chattering the whole time about "Where are we going?!? What was that?!? Did you see that?!? Was that a monster?!? Are we lost?!? Why are we going back here?!? Should we turn back?!? Does anyone know where the house is?!?" etc, etc.

They also get very excited about the tractor, riding lawn mower, or any other motorized vehicle that isn't a car/truck, etc. They run and follow it the whole time chattering. We really enjoy our guineas. They are hilarious and a lot of entertainment! They are loud, but not all the time. Mine chatter when we wear a new hat and they can't see our face, a new jacket they don't recognize, a strange animal comes around, or other things like that. They don't like change, so they make a lot of noise when something is different or they don't recognize it.

They only go in one neighbor's yard, but it is really more of an extention of ours, and she wants them there. The other side, and our other 5 acres, they don't go near. But, we think that is the mountain lion's path from the creek, so maybe they are pretty smart??

Mine were brooded with my chicks once they got about the same size, or they got most of their baby feathers (they go through 2 feather changes). Now, they hang out with the chickens, roost with the chickens, etc. I haven't gotten any eggs, yet. They are seasonal layers, unlike chickens. I expect some this Spring. However, from what I hear they aren't the best moms, so I don't think you need to worry about being overrun with guineas. But, having said that, people usually want them and you can sell them on Craigslist or here and make some money for feed.

There is no way to sex them until they are older and get their voices. They don't sex them at the hatchery, so you get what you get.

I have had half and half whether from the feedstore or whatever. I guess maybe I am lucky?

Good luck with the guineas! I love mine. They love treats and will come when I call them.

Shelly

 

[CDennis]

My guineas were raised with chickens and have never been aggressive. Under a year, they seem to be very loud. 7 of mine are at the six month mark and the way things are going my husband may kill them all before their first birthdays. Mine it purina flock raiser, scratch and chicken snacks. They are great at eating ticks and keeping down flys. I have seen mine kill mice and gophers. Mine roost with the chickens (they do steal all the good spots), they can be bossy and they are for sure odd. Yesterday 3 of mine were up on the barn roof screaming at the top of their lungs because they couldn't figure out how to get down. If they haven't decided to be more quiet by year 1 some of them will be finding new homes. The first two I had never alerted unless something strange was happening. I have heard of some being very aggressive to roosters, so far mine have been fine but I am prepared to kill or re-home a guinea before I let it take out my roo. Overall they are lots of fun.

 

[Guinea Goonie]

Ideal will ship 5 french Guineas with no "packing peanuts". They are taking orders NOW for the first month which is April delivery.

I REALLY like the french Guineas. They are bigger, more robust and not as aggressive as the regular domestics.

 

[sred98]

Quote:
Don't they have trouble breeding naturally because of their size? Also, what about a mixed flock of regular and French? Would/could they interbreed?

Shelly

 

[PaintedPony]

Thanks everyone! I looked at most of the hatcheries over the summer but they all said the minumum order was 25 and that didn't inculde mixing chicks. I'm gonna order some now. If they are as silly and crazy as you all say they'll fit in here perfectly. LOL!

 

[cw]

if your gonna order chicks, ideal will include them, but if your in texas they may send you a small order if your in the same state